Philippians 04 - Following Jesus

Reading: Phil 2:1-11

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Philippians 2:5 (NIV)

I.   Responding to what God has done in us

If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in our life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care—then do me a favor:  The Message

     A.  Common Love for God

           1.  If...if...if...if

           2.  Like minded (cf. United with Christ)

                 a.  Doesn’t mean agree on everything

                 b.  Only on our need to work together

                 c.  We all agree that what we’re about is loving and serving God.

           3.  Have the same love (cf. Comfort from his love)

                 a.  what unites Christians is that we have the same love.

                 b.  Love of God is the foundation of our Christian life.

     B.  Unity in spirit and purpose

           1.  One in spirit and purpose (cf. Fellowship with the Spirit)

                 a.  The Church isn’t a collection of people finding their own way.

                 b.  The church is a gathering of people God is working on (and through!).

           2.  One is spirit (cf. 1:27 as one man)

                 a.  Maybe: “be soulmates”

                 b.  The image is of intimate togetherness.

                 c.  One in spirit means that we are united because of who we are.

           3.  One in purpose (or one in thinking)

                 a.  One in purpose/thinking means we are united about our view of the world.

                 b.  We know and understand that reality is divided into two camps:

                       (1)      The Kingdom of God and

                       (2)      Whatever competes with it.

     C.  Beyond Self – Interest

           1.  NOT an endorsement of codependence.

                 a.  We are to consider others better (v.3)

                 b.  Look not only to our own interests (v.4)

           2.  Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit

                 a.  Selfish Ambition is a way of life in our world. — Taking care of #1

                 b.  Vain conceit: empty glory. Look at me.

           3.  We are to be about the business of promoting each other.

                 a.  We are to make others “#1”

                 b.  When we are one, our interest is the interests of others.

II.  Be like Jesus

     A.  He Empties Himself to serve people

           1.  Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus (attitude=thinking)

                 a.  This is our like-mindedness, our one purpose: following Jesus.

                 b.  Whatever Jesus was like, that’s what we’re going to be like.

           2.  This is what Jesus was like: He had a loose grip on status.

                 a.  He didn’t think it any big deal to let go of it.

           3.  Instead of hanging on to his divine form, he embraced human form.

                 a.  He didn’t even try to be a big-shot human!

                 b.  He became a servant/slave.

                 c.  He undoes the sin of Adam and Eve who, though human wanted to be like God.

     B.  He embraced Humility

           1.  He had nothing to be humble about

           2.  His purpose was to serve.

                 a.  Status had nothing to do with what he was up to.

                 b.  As he said: For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45 (NIV)

     C.  He Obeyed God

           1.  Here’s a word we don’t like!

                 a.  It rattles our independence.

                 b.  It challenges our ego.

           2.  Jesus, who was divine (though emptied of his power), submitted to the Father.

           3.  He was obedient to death.

                 a.  That is, there was no limit to his willingness to obey His Father.

                 b.  If Jesus gave up prestige, power, and his life out of love for us, what does it mean to have an attitude like his?

III. Name above all Names

     A.  Whoever humbles himself. . .

           1.  God lifts up those who humble themselves

                 a.  This is a promise and a principle.

           2.  The Father gives Jesus his throne because he humbled himself in total obedience.

                 a.  That’s what it says.

                 b.  God reward obedience lavishly!

     B.  Bending our knees

           1.  Now He is our Lord!

           2.  It is our duty and honor to bend our knee before Him.

                 a.  In this way we acknowledge that he is our King.

                 b.  In this way we acknowledge we are his servants.

           3.  We bend our knee by doing what he has asked — by letting him be Lord of all.

                 a.  Loving God with our whole being

                 b.  Loving our neighbor as ourselves.

     C.  Acknowledge Out Loud

           1.  Not only will all knees bow before him, all lips will acclaim him Lord too!

           2.  It is our privilege to do this now too!

                 a.  Do this in your heart.

                 b.  Do this out loud!

“Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.” Matthew 10:32 (NIV)

The Bottom Line:

(HoR: He is Lord!)